
The Loosely Coupled Show
The Loosely Coupled Show is where James Hickey and Derek Comartin share their strongly held opinions about topics relating to software architecture and design: HTTP REST design, asynchronous messaging patterns, distributed systems, microservices, SOA, Domain-driven design, etc.
From time-to-time, we chat with industry experts who have specific specializations within the field of software development & design.
Latest episodes

Sep 25, 2020 • 35min
Testing Controllers, Messages & Systems with Andrew Lock
Andrew Lock joins us to talk about testing. They discuss testing API/MVC controllers, messaging, databases, and more. The chapter explores challenges in testing controllers, messages, and systems, including the difficulties of testing long-running processes and the need to ensure appropriate handlers are present.

Sep 18, 2020 • 24min
Fallacy of Distributed Computing: Latency is Zero
Udi Dahan posted (per usual) a great graphic that points out latency scaled to how we comprehend it. We add synchronous network calls to database, caches and other services without thinking of the latency it will add.
https://twitter.com/UdiDahan/status/1303694890992390144
🔔 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNX9EQV4aEfa6fa9o6qcdEQ?sub_confirmation=1
James Hickey
https://twitter.com/jamesmh_dev
https://www.jamesmichaelhickey.com/
Derek Comartin
https://twitter.com/codeopinion
https://codeopinion.com

Sep 4, 2020 • 20min
Loosely Coupled Monolith
James Hickey and Derek Comartin discuss the misconceptions surrounding microservices and monoliths, the challenges and benefits of loosely coupled monolithic architecture, deploying isolated ballot contacts and managing logical coupling, the benefits, misconceptions, and challenges of microservices and monoliths, and exploring coupling in a microservice architecture.

Sep 1, 2020 • 22min
State of Community & OSS in .NET
James and Derek discuss the .NET Community and the state of OSS including the .NET Foundation.
What do they do again?

Aug 20, 2020 • 15min
Are there more experienced developers in older technologies?
Are there more junior developers using Node.js? Are .NET/Java Developers just old and writing boring line of business apps?

Aug 13, 2020 • 21min
Thoughts About Uber's "DOMA" Architecture
Uber Engineering released a blog post of their current architecture named "Domain-Oriented Microservices (which was removed, then re-posted). There was quite the buzz on Twitter about it. Here are our strong opinions about what they are doing in comparison to Domain Driven Design and SOA.
The day we recorded the article "Introducing Domain-Oriented Microservice Architecture" by Uber Engineering Blog was unavailable. It seems to be available again:
https://eng.uber.com/microservice-architecture/
Hosted By:
James Hickey
https://twitter.com/jamesmh_dev
https://www.jamesmichaelhickey.com/
Derek Comartin
https://twitter.com/codeopinion
https://codeopinion.com

Jul 24, 2020 • 23min
When should you use CQRS?
What is CQRS? Is it all about complex asynchronous processing or is it simpler than that? When should you consider using CQRS anyways? Are there different ways to achieve the benefits that CQRS offers?
Derek and James offer their strongly held yet loosely coupled opinions on these issues and more!
James Hickey:
- https://twitter.com/jamesmh_dev
- https://www.jamesmichaelhickey.com/
Derek Comartin
- https://twitter.com/codeopinion
- https://codeopinion.com

Jul 7, 2020 • 15min
Limiting Packages And Dependencies In Software Projects
What's the state of third-party packages in the software development industry today? How do third-party packages affect security, maintainability & ownership?
James and Derek share their ideas on these issues and more!
James Hickey:
https://twitter.com/jamesmh_dev
https://www.jamesmichaelhickey.com/
Derek Comartin:
https://twitter.com/codeopinion
https://codeopinion.com

Jun 27, 2020 • 20min
Software Specifications
Derek and James discuss their own experience in dealing with specifications. They then move on to chatting about what makes for a good specification, who is responsible, etc.
James Hickey:
https://twitter.com/jamesmh_dev
https://www.jamesmichaelhickey.com/
Derek Comartin:
https://twitter.com/codeopinion
https://codeopinion.com

Jun 27, 2020 • 13min
Code Reviews
Derek and James talk about their experiences with code reviews. What's been difficult, what's work well and what are the main benefits to code review... and... what are they NOT good for?
James Hickey:
https://twitter.com/jamesmh_dev
https://www.jamesmichaelhickey.com/
Derek Comartin:
https://twitter.com/codeopinion
https://codeopinion.com